Trailblazers

Mountain Women

Back when it was rare that women travelled without a chaperone or were seen in public wearing pants, a handful of women were exploring the mountains, sleeping on pine boughs, riding on horseback and scaling peaks. Some of these women were integral in areas of scientific research, including the first glacier studies and botany. Many mountain women were mountain artists, and have left behind paintings and books for us to enjoy today.

Mountain Men

Much of the discovery and exploration of Banff National Park can be attributed to the rugged men who ventured into the wild and up to the summits of the Rockies’ most iconic peaks. From outfitters and cowboys to mountain guides and surveyors, the mountain men’s most famous stories include their races for first ascents; discoveries of new waterways, glaciers and alpine lakes; quirky tales of mischief; and gripping accounts of survival and near death experiences.

Hike to one of the Alpine Club of Canada’s historic huts that were the base for mountaineering expeditions, such as Abbot Pass Hut.

Archaeology in Banff National Park

The first Europeans to ‘discover’ the Canadian Rockies were far from being the first to truly discover the wonders of this place. Excavations by archaeologists have discovered flint stone tools, spearheads, hearths and pit houses from approximately 10,000 years ago, revealing that the human history of the Rockies is anything but recent. Pictographs found in the nearby Canmore region and Kootenay National Park reveal the artistic hands of an early native presence.